The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-12-08
A California Beach.

10 kaCe the Deacn was never fail
ing attraction. She and Goodnow now
had many horse race from Castle
Rock to the wharf, good half
mile. . A mile beyond the wharf the
beach is bordered by series of low
sand-heaps. over which one looks far
up the valley to the Mission. Beyond
these are high bluffs, which rise
abruptly from the waters edge to
height of fifty feet Their face is
SCARED and yellow, but their tops are
carpeted with grass, and in spring
with patches of yellow mustard and
wild flowers. The deep coloring of
the bay, the dull yellow of the beach
and bluffs, the green tufts of grass and
the wild flowers creeping over their
edges, the distant hazy islands, the
long stretch of curved coast, mountain
guarded, were always noticed and
admired. As they cantered over the
shining sands the waves softly broke
in snowy masses of foam, and the
waters often bathed the horses feet. 1t
is possible to ride all the way to Car
penteria by way Of the beach at low
tide, a distance of eleven miles. There
is a constant succession of coves and
crescents, and at the western edge of
Carpenteria begins line of sand
dunes, low and rolling, and fringed
with low-growing reeds and bushes.
There was still another beach ride
that all liked. 1t began at the wharf
extended westward along the beach,
past steep bluffs, to foot-path that
turned inland through narrow open
ing among the coast hills. Half a
ila haynn1 ba lo
land, known as Castle Rock, projects
across the beach, and over this the road
led. Kate always rested her horse on
reaching the top, and took a good long
look at the prospect it commanded.
The view across the valley to the
mountains and along-shore to Carpen-
terra. Ruicon, and Ventura points, was
unobstructed. This headland is
thirty miles from Santa Barbara, and
forms neck of land that at first is
only few feet above the waters edge,
but which soon merges into a
mountain. 1t was the middle of
January now; but the air was warm,
the sky was a cloudless blue, and
among the grasses growing along the
edge of the cliffs were brightly colored
wild flowers. firing of the sea, she
had only to turn her head to see the
valley, or could look on both at the
same time. Old Juan came with her
one day, and told what he knew of the
neighborhood. The Point, he said,
used to be called La Punta del Castillo.
and when the Spaniards were the only
people living in Santa Barbara there
was a stong fort on the level ground
back of the rock-a fort of earth
mounted with four brass cannon.
When ship sailed into port, laden
with goods from Spain, and bringing
many lover to his sweetheart, the
soldiers fired the cannon and the ship
returned the salute. On hearing the
noise the people ran down to the
beach, and waded into the surf to pull
the boats ashore. Among those who
one day went down to meet the ship
was old Tomaso. He expected GER
tain senorita from Spain to be his
bride. When all the boats had landed,
and she did not appear, they told him
the truth. She whom he sought had
died on the voyage, and was buried at
sea. Poor Tomaso! He fell on the
sands, and was as one dead. From
that time his mind was gone. After
a long illness he came every day to
the beach, watching for his beloved
one. For many years he waited, rum
ming down to help haul in every boat,
and looking long into each face, but
never saying a word. He died watch
ing, too; for one day they found him
dead on the beach, his face turned
toward the sea and his eyes wide open.
-Edt0ardS Roberts, IN Harper's Maga-
zine.